Mail assorting rack and carrier.



MAIL ASSORTING RACK AND CA RRRR R.

APPLICATIO 4 E R. 19, 19 15. 1,205,21 3. Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

J. J. JOHNSON.

MAIL ASSORTING RACK AND CARRIER. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19, 19:5.

1205,21 3. Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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JOHN J. JOHNSON, OF CARROLLTON, WASHINGTON.

MAIL ASSORTING BACK AND CARRIER).

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

Application filed March 19, 1915. Serial No. 15,523.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN J JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Carrollton, in the county of Cowlitz and State of Washington, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mail Asserting Racks and Carriers, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a mail carrier, and more particularly to the class of assorting racks arid carriers for mail matter.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character wherein mail matter can be distributed with despatch for the assortment thereof in a carrier for convenience in the handling of the same in a mail route through rural districts.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character wherein the carrier is of novel form and has arranged therein a plurality of compartments or pockets for accommodating assorted mail matter so that the same can be conveniently carried for the distribution of the mail matter in a rural district, the said car rier being readily detachably mounted upon the assorting rack within a post office so that the mail matter when assorted can be readily inserted within the compartments or pockets when introduced into the rack, thereby enabling the handling of the mail matter with despatch and within minimum time for the completion of the distribution thereof within the post oflice.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character wherein the carrier can be rolled or folded into compact form for the convenient han-- dling thereof, and at the same time will prevent the mixing of the mail matter after assortment so that the distribution thereof can be carried forth with ease and despatch throughout a rural district.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which is extremely simple in construction, reliable and efficient in its purpose, strong, durable, and inexpensive in manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, com bination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

In the drawings :--Figure l is a perspectlve view of a rack constructed in accord ance with the invention for the assortment of mail matter. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a removable frame adapted to be mounted in the rack. Fig. 3 is an end elevation showing the sack or carrier mounted upon the frame. Fig a is an enlarged fragmentary vertical transverse sectional view through the frame and one of the pockets of the sack. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the carrler or sack for the mail matter. Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 5, showing the pockets or compartments in the sack or carrier partly expanded.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the rack A. comprises the ends 10, top 11, and shelves 12, which latter are suitably secured to the ends 10, and likewise the said top 11 is suitably fastened to the said ends which constitute the legs or support for the rack. The rack A is adapted to be positioned at a convenient location within a post oflice or other depository for mail matter to be distributed in a rural district or districts.

Removably fitted within the rack A and supported upon each shelf 12 thereof is a frame B having spaced parallel top and bottom rails 13 and let, respectively, between which is arranged a plurality of spaced vertical posts or parting strips 15 forming therebetween pigeon-holes 16, while secured to the said top and bottom rails 13 and 1e and projecting from one side of the frame are resilient spreading jaws or fingers 17 provided with tapered ends 18 for a purpose presently described.

Adapted to be removably fitted upon the jaws or fingers 17 is a flexible carrier or sack 19, the same being preferably formed from a single sheet of fabric which is folded longitudinally thereof at an intermediate point, and the stretches of such fabric are stitched as at 20 at right angles to its line of fold to form compartments or pockets 21 for the reception of assorted mail matter therein.

The carrier or sack 19 is fitted upon the fingers or jaws 17 by the spreading open of the respective compartments or pockets 21 so that the said jaws or fingers 17 will be received therein for sustaining the compartments or pockets open for the free introduction of mail matter through the pigeon holes 16 in the frame B therein. Each frame 13 can be removed from the rack 10 and placed upon a counter, table, or other support for the mounting of the carrier or sack 19 thereon to receive the assorted mail matter.

The top rail 13 of the frame B at the point of each pigeon hole 16 has thereon a name plate, or otherwise provided, suitable indicia indicative of the character or nature of the mail matter to be deposited in the respective compartments or pockets within the sack or carrier, while fixed to or otherwise mounted upon one stretch of the carrier or sack at the point of the openings of the pockets 21 therein is suitable indicia corresponding to the indicia on the frames B so that when the mail matter has been deposited in the pockets 21 in the carrier or sack the user thereof can readily distinguish the assortment of the mail matter for the quick distribution thereof throughout a mail route or in a rural district or districts without necessitating close inspection of the mail matter contained within the sack or carrier, thereby assuring the distribution of the mail matter from the sack with despatch and without inconvenience to the user thereof.

lVhen the carrier or sack 19 is placed upon the fingers or jaws 17 carried by the connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction of the device will be clearly understood, and therefore a more eX- tended explanation has been omitted.

What is claimed is A mail bag supporting frame comprising a pair of rails, strips spacing said rails apart and a set of horizontally disposed substantially rectangular resilient fingers for each rail, each having one end secured to the rail between a pair of strips and the other spaced from said strips and rails and beveled.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 7 in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN J JOHNSON. lVitnesses JACOB Berrinn, JOHN PARSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner o'f'Patents. Washington. D. 0. 

